Hip pain? Visit your doctor right away!

As soon as we experience pains and aches, we try stalling going to the doctor as much as we can and try all the home remedies that come to mind. However, there always comes the point where we realize that none of the treatments are working and we inevitably, have to visit the doctor. This article will outline how an orthopedic specialist will help treat your hip pain.

What factors are responsible for your hip pain?

The first question that comes to mind, of course, is what the reason behind your hip pain is? Generally, there are plenty of factors responsible for hip pain. But the most frequent question which pops up is if the pain is because of arthritis. And if arthritis is not reason, then what is?

To figure out the cause, our orthopedic specialists in NYC begin the medical exam by reviewing the patient’s medical history along with a physical medical exam. However, the orthopedist specialist may need to conduct further tests if he is unable to diagnose the pain. The most commonly asked medical history questions include:

When and how did the pain start?

Do you perform any activities which increase the pain?

Have you experienced similar pain before? If so, what was done for its treatment?

Do you perform any activities which help ease the pain?

Did you have an accident or were you injured before the pain started?

Have you experienced pain in any other joint or part of your body?

Has the pain been preventing you from performing daily physical activities like walking?

You may also needto describe the pain like if it is a snapping sensation, a dull ache, a sharp stabbing pain, or a burning sensation.

What does a good medical exam include?

Make sure your doctor has conducted a thorough physical examination before he tells your diagnosis. The doctor will usually look for weakness in the muscles, pain near or around the hip, and tenderness to the touch of the hip.

For a thorough medical exam and an accurate diagnosis, you will have to lie down on the table while the orthopedic specialist will examine you in a supine or flat position. Your orthopedist specialist may also instruct you to change the position of your legsor walk to determine the exact location and how the hip pain occurs.

Is there any other approach to diagnose hip pain?

There are several other ways to diagnose hip pain, and X-rays are on the top of the list. Actually, X-rays are the most useful tools for diagnosing degenerative joint disease, particularly osteoarthritis in the hip. However, sometimes orthopedic specialists need to conduct blood tests as well, to rule out systemic inflammatory disease and inflammatory arthritis which can lead to joint disease in the hip. An increased ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) along with an increased WBC count can also indicate hip infection.

CT scans are also occasionally used if your X-rays indicate any sign of lesions or raise any suspicion of other factors responsible for hip pain and pelvic pain. Sometimes, CT scans are considered to be more useful than standard X-rays in identifying certain hip problems because they show soft tissues, including muscles and ligaments more clearly than the X-rays. If the X-rays fail to diagnose the disease and give a clear picture, an MRI is particularly helpful in ruling out osteonecrosis, a degenerative disorder of the bone.

What to expect in a typical X-ray

It is very easy to see if your hip is in perfectly good health or if it needs treatment. In fact, you can figure it out yourself! If you have a good joint, there should be some clear space between the ball and socket of the femoral head. However, if you see no clear joint space, you need to seek immediate medical attention. You can further confirm a bad joint if you see a white and hardened bone where the hip has degenerated.